Manipur CM vows all-out push to trace missing Naga men amid hill tensions
Synopsis
More than 40 Kuki and Naga community members were taken hostage following the killing of three Baptist church leaders in Kangpokpi on 13 May. Thirty have been released — but the rest, including a pastor, remain missing. Manipur's CM is now facing a Naga delegation that has grimly asked: if they are dead, at least return the bodies.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh met a Naga community delegation on 19 May , assuring intensive search operations for missing villagers.
Three Baptist church leaders were killed and four injured in Kangpokpi district on 13 May , triggering a hostage crisis.
More than 40 people from Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts .
30 hostages were released on 14 and 15 May after intervention by authorities and CSOs; remaining persons are still missing.
The Liangmai Naga Council, LPNR, and LNKR submitted a joint memorandum demanding the release of missing men, including a pastor , and enhanced police deployment in vulnerable villages.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday, 19 May assured a delegation of Naga community leaders that state police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are conducting intensive combing operations across suspected areas to locate missing villagers allegedly abducted from Kangpokpi district. The Chief Minister appealed for calm and pledged all-out efforts to defuse the crisis and restore normalcy in the state's hill areas.
Background: Hostages, Killings, and Partial Releases
The crisis was triggered on 13 May when three Baptist church leaders were killed and four others injured in Kangpokpi district. In the aftermath, more than 40 people belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage by various groups across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts. Following sustained intervention by authorities, community leaders, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), 30 of those held were released on 14 and 15 May, according to officials.
Naga Delegation's Demands
A joint delegation of the Liangmai Naga Council and the Liangmai Naga Women Union met Chief Minister Singh on Tuesday, demanding the immediate release of the remaining missing men — including a pastor — allegedly abducted by unknown armed men from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district. One tribal leader made a sombre appeal: even if the missing individuals are no longer alive, their bodies should be returned to their families to allow last rites to be performed.
Security and Memorandum
The delegation also urged the Chief Minister to deploy adequate police forces in vulnerable Liangmai villages in Kangpokpi district to protect residents. Three organisations — the Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC), the Liangmai Pui Naga Ruangdi, Manipur (LPNR), and the Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, Manipur (LNKR) — jointly submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister outlining their grievances and demands.
What the Government Said
Chief Minister Singh urged all communities to shun violence and cooperate with the government to restore peace and harmony. He reiterated that the state administration is leaving no stone unturned in tracing the missing persons and de-escalating tensions across the hill districts. This comes amid an already fragile security environment in Manipur, where ethnic tensions have periodically flared across hill and valley communities over recent years.
What Happens Next
With combing operations ongoing and community leaders maintaining pressure on the government, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the remaining missing persons are found and whether calm can be durably restored in the affected districts. The government's response to the memorandum submitted by the Liangmai Naga organisations is also awaited.
Point of View
And that 10 or more remain unaccounted for days later, points to the limits of reactive combing operations. The CM's assurances, while necessary, do not address the structural question: why were vulnerable Liangmai villages left without adequate police cover in the first place? Manipur's ethnic fault lines have repeatedly produced cycles of violence and negotiated calm — without durable resolution. Until the state demonstrates it can protect civilians proactively rather than respond after abductions occur, community trust will remain fragile and the next flashpoint will not be far away.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the missing men in the Manipur Kangpokpi crisis?
The missing men are members of the Naga community from Konsakhul village in Kangpokpi district, allegedly abducted by unknown armed men on 13 May. They include a pastor, according to the Liangmai Naga Council delegation that met the Chief Minister on 19 May.
What triggered the hostage crisis in Manipur's hill areas?
The crisis began on 13 May when three Baptist church leaders were killed and four others injured in Kangpokpi district. In the aftermath, more than 40 people from the Kuki and Naga communities were taken hostage across Kangpokpi and Senapati districts by various groups.
How many hostages have been released so far?
30 of the more than 40 hostages were released on 14 and 15 May following intervention by authorities, community leaders, and Civil Society Organisations. The remaining individuals, including a pastor, are still missing as of 19 May.
What did the Naga delegation demand from Manipur's Chief Minister?
The delegation demanded the immediate release of the missing men, the return of their bodies to families for last rites if they are deceased, and the deployment of adequate police forces in vulnerable Liangmai villages in Kangpokpi district to ensure residents' safety.
What action is the Manipur government taking?
State police and CRPF personnel are conducting intensive combing operations in suspected areas. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has appealed to all communities to shun violence and cooperate with the government, and is reviewing a joint memorandum submitted by three Liangmai Naga organisations.
